It is my understanding that in addition to this week's agenda item
regarding signing onto Amicus Briefs protecting funding for "Sanctuary
Cities", that there will be an agenda item at a later date about whether
Menlo Park should become a "Sanctuary City."

The stories in the news are troubling - parents being taken away from
children at schools and churches - people who have been living and working
here peaceably for many years. Youth who grew up here and have no
experience in any other country, deported or interned.

The question for the experts is what concrete steps can and should Menlo
Park take to protect our neighbors?

Effective law enforcement depends on community policing - people need to
feel comfortable giving police information about violence, theft and fraud.
Local law enforcement resources are limited, and should be used to pursue
individuals who are a danger to society. If our local police are used to
pursue people who are living peaceably, they are not spending their time
pursuing people who are a danger to others' lives and property. And if
community members are afraid to talk to police because of immigration
status, we will all be less safe.

In addition, public health depends on community members seeking treatment.
If community members are afraid to go to the doctor because of immigration
status, there are health risks to others.

Utilizing city resources to pursue undocumented immigrants who are living
peaceably is not a good use of resources, and makes us all less safe and
healthy. There are better policies for people who are undocumented but have
been living peaceably for many years, although those policies are not on
the table at the moment.

Therefore, what steps are appropriate for the city to take to use the
city's resources prudently, and to protect our neighbors.

I would urge city staff and those with expertise to propose such concrete
steps for the city to take.